Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection

An all-new Stormlight Archive novella is the crown jewel of Arcanum Unbounded: The Cosmere Collection, the first audiobook of short fiction by New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson. The collection includes eight works in all. Originally published on Tor.com and other websites, or published by the author, these wonderful tales convey the expanse of the Shardworlds and tell exciting tales of adventure Sanderson fans have come to expect.

Warbreaker

Warbreaker is the story of two sisters who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can be collected only one unit at a time.

Legion

Stephen Leeds, AKA 'Legion,' is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his 'aspects' are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society.

The Emperor's Soul

New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson is widely celebrated for his Mistborn Trilogy and contribution to the final three books of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. In The Emperor's Soul, a Forger named Shai can copy and re-create any item by using magic to rewrite its history. After being condemned to death for attempting to steal the emperor's scepter, Shai is given one final chance. She' ll be allowed to live if she can create a new soul for the emperor, who hovers near death.

Steelheart: The Reckoners, Book 1

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills. Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them. And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father.

Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians

The author of the Mistborn trilogy and Elantris, Brandon Sanderson is winning abundant praise for this rollicking - and unusual - tale. Alcatraz Smedry can’t exactly be described as someone who doesn’t break things. In fact, he breaks lots of things. The truth is, he’s a major klutz. Breaking things, however, might just be the ace in the hole he needs when he goes up against a cabal of nefarious (gasp!) librarians.

Elantris

Once the godlike rulers of the capital of Arelon, the inhabitans of Elantris have been imprisoned within themselves, unable to die after the city's magic failed years ago. But when a new prince falls victim to the curse, he refuses to accept his fate.

The Dark Talent: Alcatraz vs the Evil Librarians

Alcatraz Smedry doesn't seem destined for anything but disaster. On his 13th birthday, he receives a bag of sand, which is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians plotting to take over the world. The sand will give the Librarians the edge they need to achieve world domination. Alcatraz must stop them...by infiltrating the local library, armed with nothing but eyeglasses and a talent for klutziness.

Perfect State

God-Emperor Kairominas is lord of all he surveys. He has defeated all foes, has united the entire world beneath his rule, and has mastered the arcane arts. He spends his time sparring with his nemesis, who keeps trying to invade Kai's world. Except for today. Today Kai has to go on a date. Forces have conspired to require him to meet with his equal - a woman from another world who has achieved just as much as he has.

Shadows for Silence in the Forests of Hell: A Cosmere Novella

When the familiar and seemingly safe turns lethal, therein danger lies. Amid a forest where the shades of the dead linger all around, every homesteader knows to follow the Simple Rules: "Don't kindle flame, don't shed the blood of another, don't run at night. These things draw shades." Silence Montane has broken all three rules on more than one occasion. And to protect her family from a murderous gang with high bounties on their heads, Silence will break every rule again, at the risk of becoming a shade herself.

Dawn of Wonder: The Wakening, Book 1

When a high-ranking officer gallops into the quiet Mistyvales, he brings a warning that shakes the countryfolk to their roots. But for Aedan, a scruffy young adventurer with veins full of fire and a head full of ideas, this officer is not what he seems. The events that follow propel Aedan on a journey that only the foolhardy or desperate would risk, leading him to the gates of the nation's royal academy - a whole world of secrets in itself. But this is only the beginning of his discoveries.

The Way of Kings: Book One of The Stormlight Archive

Roshar is a world of stone and storms. Uncanny tempests of incredible power sweep across the rocky terrain so frequently that they have shaped ecology and civilization alike. Animals hide in shells, trees pull in branches, and grass retracts into the soilless ground. Cities are built only where the topography offers shelter. It has been centuries since the fall of the ten consecrated orders known as the Knights Radiant, but their Shardblades and Shardplate remain: mystical swords and suits of armor.

Reign of Madness: King's Dark Tidings, Book 2

Equipped with skills far beyond those of the outworlders, Rezkin has been suddenly thrust into a foreign world. The young warrior clings to his only known purpose as he continues his search for any information about his identity and the reason for his existence. While the hardened warrior scorns both dueling and tournaments, he believes some of the answers he seeks may be found at the King's Tournament, the greatest dueling championship in all of the kingdoms.

Free the Darkness: King's Dark Tidings, Book 1

Raised and trained in seclusion at a secret fortress on the edge of the northern wilds of the Kingdom of Ashai, a young warrior called Rezkin is unexpectedly thrust into the outworld when a terrible battle destroys all that he knows. With no understanding of his life’s purpose and armed with masterful weapons mysteriously bestowed upon him by a dead king, Rezkin must travel across Ashai to find the one man who may hold the clues to his very existence.

The Cycle of Arawn: The Complete Trilogy

The White Tree (book one): In Mallon the dark magic of the nether has been banned for centuries. Its users have been driven out or killed. Its secrets lost. But the holy book of the nethermancers has just been found by a boy named Dante. As he works to unlock the book's power, he's attacked in the street. The nethermancers aren't gone—and they want their book back. Caught between death cultists and the law, Dante fights for his life, aided by his growing skills and a brash bodyguard named Blays.

New Spring: The Wheel of Time Prequel

For three days battle has raged in the snow around the great city of Tar Valon. In the city, a foretelling of the future is uttered. On the slopes of Dragonmount, the immense mountain that looms over the city, a child is born, an infant prophesied to change the world. That child must be found before he can be killed by the forces of the Shadow.

Age of Myth: Book One of The Legends of the First Empire

Since time immemorial, humans have worshipped the gods they call Fhrey, truly a race apart: invincible in battle, masters of magic, and seemingly immortal. But when a god falls to a human blade, the balance of power between humans and those they thought were gods changes forever. Now only a few stand between humankind and annihilation: Raithe, reluctant to embrace his destiny as the God Killer. Suri, a young seer burdened by signs of impending doom. And Persephone, who must overcome personal tragedy to lead her people.

Monster Hunter Memoirs: Sinners

With New Orleans out of control, Chad Oliver Gardenier, one of Monster Hunter International's premier hunters, has been dispatched from Seattle to reinforce the beleaguered members of MHI'S Hoodoo Squad in their fight against the darkness.

The Black Prism

Gavin Guile is the Prism, the most powerful man in the world. He is high priest and emperor, a man whose power, wit, and charm are all that preserve a tenuous peace. But Prisms never last, and Guile knows exactly how long he has left to live: five years to achieve five impossible goals. But when Guile discovers he has a son, born in a far kingdom after the war that put him in power, he must decide how much he's willing to pay to protect a secret that could tear his world apart.

Cephrael's Hand: A Pattern of Shadow and Light, Book 1

In Alorin...300 years after the genocidal Adept Wars, the realm is dying, and the blessed Adept race dies with it. One man holds the secret to reverting this decline: Bjorn van Gelderan, a dangerous and enigmatic man whose shocking betrayal three centuries past earned him a traitor's brand. It is the Adept Vestal Raine D'Lacourte's mission to learn what Bjorn knows in the hope of salvaging his race. But first he'll have to find him....

The White Mage Omnibus: Books 1-3

The Last Oracle, book one: Forced into hiding, the mages of Lumineia have been forgotten. In their absence the world has become known by another name: Earth. The humans have flourished with time, unaware that The Last Oracle is destined to unite them. At her touch magic will be unbound and known again as truth. But an ancient war harbors a deadly secret. Draeken, the Lord of Chaos, had a second apprentice, one who became trapped with the defeated fiends.

Theft of Swords: Riyria Revelations, Volume 1

Acclaimed author Michael J. Sullivan created instant best sellers with his spellbinding Riyria Revelations series. This first volume introduces Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater, two enterprising thieves who end up running for their lives when they’re framed for the death of the king. Trapped in a conspiracy bigger than they can imagine, their only hope is unraveling an ancient mystery - before it’s too late.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob): Bobiverse, Book 1

Bob Johansson has just sold his software company and is looking forward to a life of leisure. There are places to go, books to read, and movies to watch. So it's a little unfair when he gets himself killed crossing the street. Bob wakes up a century later to find that corpsicles have been declared to be without rights, and he is now the property of the state. He has been uploaded into computer hardware and is slated to be the controlling AI in an interstellar probe looking for habitable planets.

Publisher's Summary

Audie Award Finalist, Fantasy, 2014

From number-one New York Times best-selling author Brandon Sanderson: his debut novel for the young adult audience.

More than anything, Joel wants to be a Rithmatist. Chosen by the Master in a mysterious inception ceremony, Rithmatists have the power to infuse life into two-dimensional figures known as Chalklings. Rithmatists are humanity’s only defense against the Wild Chalklings - merciless creatures that leave mangled corpses in their wake. Having nearly overrun the territory of Nebrask, the Wild Chalklings now threaten all of the American Isles.

As the son of a lowly chalkmaker at Armedius Academy, Joel can only watch as Rithmatist students study the magical art that he would do anything to practice. Then students start disappearing - kidnapped from their rooms at night, leaving trails of blood. Assigned to help the professor who is investigating the crimes, Joel and his friend Melody find themselves on the trail of an unexpected discovery - one that will change Rithmatics - and their world - forever.

Best-selling author Brandon Sanderson brings his unique brand of epic storytelling to the teen audience with an engrossing tale of danger and suspense - the first of a series. With his trademark skills in world-building, Sanderson has created a magic system that is so inventive and detailed that listeners who appreciate games of strategy and tactics just may want to bring Rithmatics to life in our world.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

Brandon Sanderson has once again crafted an excellent tale of suspense, mystery, and intrigue. This was only supplemented by the skilled voice acting of Michael Kramer. The only crime of this book is the short (10 hour) length!

-The Good-1. Exceptionally detailed world that you can vividly imagine.2. Dynamic characters brought to life by the voice acting.3. Deeply engaging elements of religion, history, and human perception.4. A compelling threat to Joel and a great villain.5. An unforeseen twist that goes against your post-Harry Potter expectations.

-The Bad-1. Just over 10 hours in length leaving the end feeling slightly rushed.2. Untied strings of plot were left unexplained. I can only hope this means that a sequel is imminent.3. The use of chalk as a main component of the story.

To summarize; this book is fantastic and worth the cost of admission. But prepare yourself for the ending and having to possibly wait for the conclusion of story.

Did you know you can put in a set of Ear-Buds, slap your Hearing Protectors over them, and Mow the lawn, Weed-Eat, etc, without your book being drowned out by engine noise? OR, you can just let the horses in the yard, and THEY'LL mow and weedeat (literally) FOR YOU!

First off, "Pure Sanderson"! Probably one of the best writers of the Fantasy Genre, if not *THE* best, and continuously getting better! As usual he lead my moods and expectations down a path of his own making, and by now I know better than to even TRY to figure out in advance where that path is leading.

This is a Young Adult Book, however it doesn't detract from the story for adults that I could tell (Or maybe I should contemplate more on my own maturity ;)

At times I found myself DEEPLY engrossed in the tales of Battles out in "Nebrask", guts and muscles clenched, actually worrying for the characters while a soldier describes the scene of the men battling for their lives after they are cut off from the main force; listening to the Teller's description of the battle fortifications and the terror and desperate fighting of the Soldiers, the enemy hordes attacking them again and again, the bravery of the men in the face of the inevitable defeat and horrible death... and then it's mentioned AGAIN that the "Attackers" are "2-Diminsional Chalk Figures Drawn On The Ground"... Every time this happened my worry vanished and I burst into laughter, and thought "He's done it to me again!" I mean, a Garden Hose could have wiped out the "attackers"! I still chuckle thinking about it! I kept skipping backward trying to see WHERE and HOW in the story Sanderson got me so engrossed and personally involved in a particular section!

I always have to ask.. "WHERE does he come up with his material???" Sanderson's ideas are just NOT "Something I've seen before in other books"; His work doesn't fit into ANY mold of writing style, and it doesn't fit into ANY single genre! Every time I pop onto Audible now (Almost Daily), I look for a new work by Sanderson... in my mind, he's a Master of his trade in every sense of the word! He's "One Of A Kind"

I've just quit saying "I DON'T generally like Fantasy Novels", because Sanderson has made a total liar out of me since I found his books.

The more I read by Brandon Sanderson, the more I respect him as an author. In fact, at this moment in time, I think he is probably the best fantasy author in the business. His work is consistently of high quality, his characters are realistic, his world building is outstanding, and his magic systems are unique, imaginative, and very well considered. On top of that, Sanderson is fast writer, meaning that he publishes multiple novels a year.

With all that said, I really enjoyed The Rithmatist. It is technically a young adult novel, but I hardly noticed. The only real differences between it and Sanderson's adult fiction is that it's shorter in length, the protagonist is 15 years old, and there's no romance. None of that bothered me in the slightest.

It's hard for me to pick my favorite thing about the novel, because I really liked it as a whole. However, the magic system was absolutely fantastic. In The Rithmatist, magical energies can be used for attack or defense by drawing shapes with chalk. I thought that was a really cool idea, but I also really liked how Sanderson took it another step and developed a dueling system complete with rules and strategies.

Beyond that, I thought that Joel was a really good protagonist. Sure, he fits the typical "unlikely hero" motif almost exactly, but it's a classic trope that never gets old if done well. Joel is full of youthful exuberance and is easy to relate to. I liked how it was his intelligence that was his true asset and not magic.

The world that Sanderson created was really interesting as well. The story is set in a alternate United States somewhere around the beginning of the 20th century. I don't recall if an exact year was given. It seemed like the story was going to fall into the Steampunk genre, but instead the world relies on magnets and magic for technological innovation. I really liked that, because, to be honest, Steampunk just isn't my favorite.

Overall, the story was not overly complicated, but had enough mystery and suspense to move the plot along at a brisk pace and keep things interesting. I liked this so much, I would recommend it to anyone even vaguely interested in speculative fiction.

Not sure what the plans for this series are, but this is a pretty good start. Should point out right away that this is another "young adult" book, but one I enjoyed. In the beginning of the story (it's only 10 hours, btw) I was skeptical - story seemed full of holes, and it also...odd that it centered so much around chalk and the two-dimensional battles...but as I'd expect from Brandon Sanderson, it kept me interested throughout, and some of "holes", turned out to be deliberate (part of the story). I know this is the kind of book my kids will LOVE - adding it to the list of books I'll be buying for them when they're old enough! And, while I think Sanderson should stay focused on his "Way of Kings" series, if a second one in this series comes out, I'll get it. Michael Kramer is awesome, as usual.

I don't know why, but I didn't expect great things from this book. The magic system seemed, quite frankly, a little silly. And it was a YA novel. Granted, I really like YA sf, but Brandon Sanderson doing it? It just seemed odd. But he does a phenomenal job with it. Great, quick paced, page-turning story. Michael Kramer narrates beautifully. You can tell it is written for young adults, but that doesn't mean he dumbed down his writing or over-simplified anything. It is still excellent fantasy. I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes sf, or just good writing in general.

Brandon Sanderson is truly one of the greatest authors.. So far every single book he released was amazing and The Rithmatist is a good example.

When I read the summary of this book before, i'll be honest I didn't understand what was the book about, but I bought the book anyway just because of the author, and I don't regret it at all.

I am going to be basic here, The Rithmatists are people who can defend and attack by drawing things and bringing them to life. (This is to clear what is going on exactly)

One of the things that I liked about this book was the world itself, this book's world is our world with some changes, but still this world, and actually liked that (didn't have to understand and remember different countries and so on)

Another good thing is that the plot. It doesn't go as you would have expected, there are few things that go the other way, which is always appreciated.

Brandon Sanderson gave us another great book, gave a fantastic ending which could lead to so many possibilities in the future... I'm sure there will be future books after this one.

If you are wondering wether to buy this book or not, then i would say go and BUY IT NOW!!!! If you liked Brandon Sanderson's books before, you will like this one too. and if you never heard of Brandon Sanderson, then just buy it anyway, you will love his work.

If you have read Brandon Sanderson books in the past you won't be disappointed. This book is a little different in that it has more of a YA feel to it. However don't let this keep you from checking it out. It has some interesting concepts and the people in this book have some unique powers over chalk. This could be a standalone book but it is left wide open for the possibility of sequels to follow if the author chooses. So overall this is a light fun book that can be enjoyed by young adults and those of us young at heart.

A unique fresh storyline. Although this audience is for young adults this book will definitely appeal to readers of all ages.

What did you like best about this story?

It was a different, new version of our world. The young characters had depth and appeal. But what more can you expect from Brand Sanderson. Mr. Sanderson's ability to spin a tale is without bounds.

What does Michael Kramer bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Michael Kramer is a great story teller. His infection, ability to hold your interest with the book being read is great.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did have a few outbursts of laughter at the antics of the characters. There were moments of intense drama and more of intrigue that made this book a fast 6+ hours to complete. I did not want to stop listening.

Any additional comments?

There will definitely be a sequel or sequels. This book has the foundation of many more sequels to come.

I hold a BA in History from York University of Toronto; a 3yr Diploma in Computer Networking from Sheridan College in Oakville Ontario. I have been "reading" audio books sinces the late 80s and a member of Audible back to 2004. What a really like is a good long story preferable over 30 hours. :)

I've enjoyed Brandon Sanderson other works and as an adult I would not place this in his gems but it's enjoyable. None of the major characters are flat; the motive of the "enemy" forces aren't clearly explain by the end they are hinted at being more complex than this book could hold.

The rules of the Magic are if a little hard to imaged without a geometry textbook;they clearly explained in the PDF that comes with the Audiobook. (There appears to be one page in the PDF per chapter.) - I would suggest at least flipping though the pdf before the starting.

If you have not heard Michael Kramer read a book then you are truly in for a treat. I personally believe he is one of the best. He's voices never seem to strain his voice or my ears.

There is very little gore and the actual death count is very reasonable at the end of the book (you must however reach the end before you'll see.)

While the 2 main student characters are set at 16; really though I felt they were a little younger. There is no overt love or girlfriend boyfriend theme that I remember from my own high school days. The book and story would appeal to a younger crowd.

There is a "god" in this book but it seems to be more closely linked to the magic in the world than with morality.

HUMANS ARE MORE THAN THE NEED TO SURVIVEIf asked to choose between Ender's Game and this book as my favorite, I would have a problem. This is so brilliantly written, so engaging, so entertaining, that it is hard to choose. Ender's Game is about space and I am more Sci-fi then Fantasy, but Ender does have some dead spots where this has none.

PARENTS, THE BANE OF EVERY SCHOOLThis is considered a Teen book, cause there is no sex and very little violence and the main character is sixteen. This 55 year old man loved it. It takes place at a University. It is pro learning for learning sake, not for grades. The teachers love teaching and I saw my wife who is a math teacher in some of these characters. (especially the geometry teacher who was compared to teaching his class like a coach giving a motivational speech. A teacher who continued to teach, even after the end of the year exams, because learning is so much fun!) Another cool concept which happens early in the story, is a teacher dueling another teacher, no violence involved, hard to describe, you must read to learn how. The result is better teachers, cause at anytime a teacher who is set in his or her way can be challenged by an upstart and the more knowledgeable will win. (Not that the more knowledgeable always makes the best teacher, some PHD's make terrible teachers.) The concept just blew my mind.

A TRAGEDYThe book has some twists in it, that surprised me. Sanderson could have also taken the easy, popular way out in one incident, but he was above that, which in my mind, even though I wanted the character to get what he wanted, made the story more real and a much better story, which Sanderson made up for later. (A kind of George R.R. Martin Moment.)CHOCOLATE IS THE GREATEST INVENTION OF ALL TIME. Melody, is a character who you don't care for at first, but who you will end up loving. She is a total opposite to Joel, but she helps him to grow and he helps her in return. You will be routing for Joel to kiss her by the end of the book.

CHALKLINGS WERE TWO-DIMENSIONALI love the alternate world Sanderson creates. If there is a weak point it would be the chalklings themselves. I found it hard to get scared over two-dimensional creatures and I was never sure of the size of these things. I believe they were only a couple of inches long. The audible comes with a PDF, but the map of the United Isles is not in it. That is in the hard cover. You will want a copy of the hard cover, it is a beautiful book, illustrated by Ben McSweeney. Like Card's map in his Hat Track series, it alone is interesting. You also must get this recording, for the voice of Michael Kramer. Kramer made famous for The Wheel of Time series is perfect for this book and he better do the sequels. Some reviewers have mentioned that the whole story is not complete. I disagree, all but one loose end is tied up and life goes on, does any story really end. I am 55 and my story is still going on. Joel and Melody are only sixteen, they have a lot of story to go.

NOT HAVING ICE CREAM, SHE PROCLAIMED, IS THE CULMINATION OF ALL DISASTERS!